Help! I've been hijacked

[keepersdaughter]

I was just checking my yahoo email account and discovered a message with attachment FROM our own email account - selling Rolex watches. :mad: I don't usually open the type of things saying they are selling something, particularly with attachments as while I'm not computer savvy I know this is a no no.
What I don't understand is how someone could use our email account name, spelled exactly the same, all lower case, etc. does that mean they also have access to the password, and then does that also mean they could somehow go and find credit card info. from online shopping. Please does anyone know? I am very concerned. I recently got a new laptop and haven't put Norton antivirus on, I've just ordered one now, but am worried.

[JerseyLily]

Hi, I'm not terribly computer savvy either, but taking a long-shot it sounds as though you've inadvertantly utilised the cc option to forward mail and may have done so using auto-reply instead of usng compose to forward to individual people, that way an unscrupulous third-party has attached the file and re-forwarded. Does that make sense - probably not!

I guess a good rule of thumb is to avoid the auto-reply between your Yahoo account and home mail box and vice versa. And to make sure all CC posts are composed not forwarded or copied from home mail. Better to be safe than sorry later. other than that I'd check the sent box to be sure you are not at fault. Then I'd go for a good clean up of mail box, like delete, delete, delete, and re-install contacts after thorough check of who is who.

[keepersdaughter]

Thanks so much for your reply JerseyLily. I think I vaguely get what you're saying. I haven't sent any emails from that particular email account for some time. I suppose you could call it the 'family' account, it was the first account my husband set up many years ago when he first bought a computer. The kids have their own account, different (do you call it server or IP address? see how little I know) and they never use this one. I don't send out much email correspondence anyway, but if I do use another yahoo account name. I checked the 'sent' box and the last few things sent were to do with a Toshiba computer battery replacement to Toshiba and something my husband sent to someone do with his job. We have been getting a fair bit of mail from people at my husband's company - don't know these people they are sent out in mass to a certain section of employees. I don't know if some how one of these people somehow had their mail compromised. Oh my head hurts trying to understand this, but I still can't get how someone could use our email address without knowing our password or does it not work like that. Sorry i must appear very stupid.

[JerseyLily]

If in doubt check it out with your Internet Service Provider. They should have the wherewithall to check your account and see whether it has been compromised first.

[keepersdaughter]

Never thought of that JL, thanks I'll ask them.